Rachel, a 42 year-old senior doctor, living in London, Fields, began training with KBPT in 2019 after a personal recommendation. What started as a way to boost her strength and avoid running injuries has evolved into a key part of managing her demanding career and family life. Training has provided not just physical benefits, but also much-needed mental clarity during stressful times, especially throughout the pandemic.
How did you find KBPT, and when did you start training?
I started training in August 2019, thanks to a personal recommendation.
What were your main goals when you first started doing personal training?Â
Back then, I was running a lot—about 30-40k a week—and I wanted to increase my strength to avoid any running injuries.
How have your goals changed over the years?Â
My life has really changed since then. I started PT during a career break, but soon after, I went back to working full-time with a baby at home. PT helped me stay disciplined and maintain my fitness. During Covid, it kept me sane while working in an NHS hospital, especially during that first wave when things were incredibly tough. Training online during that period gave me an hour to myself and someone to talk to besides my family. I also trained through my second pregnancy and postnatal period. Now, with my second child being two and a half, I’m still going strong with PT.
How does having personal training make you feel?
Knackered and sweaty! But honestly, I get such clarity of mind after training. There’s a different kind of buzz from strength training compared to cardio that I really enjoy.
What motivates you to keep training?
I’ve found a real love for strength training that I never expected. I enjoy getting stronger and seeing progress. Now that I cycle more than I run, strength training complements that perfectly.
What has been your biggest achievement while personal training with KBPT?
I’m really proud of my consistency. I’ve been training for five years now, and I just keep showing up. Sometimes I’m fitter, sometimes I’m not, sometimes I’ve got a niggly injury, sometimes I don’t—life happens. But no matter what, I keep going.
What do you like most about training with your personal trainer, Lauren?
Lauren is the best—she’s really fun. She listens to me and adapts the training to what I need at that moment. The time flies by because she’s always telling entertaining stories, and she puts up with my moaning while still making me laugh.
What’s next with your training?
I’d like to keep increasing my strength, especially as I prepare for menopause. I’d also love to increase the frequency of my sessions, but that’s tough with my current schedule and family commitments. Hopefully, I can make it work at some point.
We are so impressed at your dedication throughout your training and keeping that focus on looking after yourself whilst being a mum and working for our NHS – thank you for all that you do! Here’s to getting stronger!
